Ostrakon with an Invocation or Charm
Not on view
Archaeologists have discovered many objects, such as this incised hematite amulet, in monastic contexts throughout Egypt. Artisans and scribes produced ritual protective texts and images alongside other religious objects in the late antique and medieval periods. Incantations to ward off evil as well as alchemical texts or "spells" appear in both Coptic and Greek. Natural materials such as hematite and rock crystal, believed to have apotropaic properties, were used to make amulets. Amulets like this one have been described as "magical" objects. Such works illuminate everyday desires, such as protection, love, and good luck. Magic is not necessarily the most precise term to describe works such as this, which blur the lines between multiple faith practices. Still, scholars and the public often use the word to describe texts or objects that do not seem to fit into traditional devotional or miraculous categories.
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